Former Anambra State Governor, and 2023 Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has cautioned that Nigeria risks worsening poverty and weakening national cohesion if it implements a tax system that overburdens citizens.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Obi stressed that genuine economic growth cannot be achieved through policies that make people poorer. He emphasised that prosperity must be built on trust, honesty, and productivity, and criticised taxation that lacks transparency or clear public benefit.
Drawing from his engagements with global leaders, Obi highlighted that countries achieving lasting transformation do so by uniting their citizens around a shared vision anchored in truth and integrity. He argued that leadership without honesty erodes consensus and undermines the foundations of development.
“As I travel the world and meet leaders who have transformed their nations, one lesson is clear: lasting economic and social progress begins with national consensus. Transformative leaders share a defining quality; honesty. Government must be transparent and truthful because citizens deserve nothing less from those who lead them,” he said.
Obi maintained that taxation should reflect a genuine social contract, grounded in fairness, sincerity, and concern for citizens’ welfare. He called for all tax policies to be clearly communicated, including their impact on personal incomes and their contribution to national development.
“If taxation is to function as a genuine social contract, it must be rooted in sincerity, fairness, and concern for the welfare of the people. Without transparency, taxation becomes a tool of confusion and burden rather than a mechanism for growth and development,” he said.
The former governor argued that Nigeria’s fiscal challenges are not merely about raising revenue, but about creating wealth for citizens to strengthen the nation. He suggested that empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should be the foundation for sustainable growth, noting that thriving businesses generate jobs, increase incomes, and naturally expand the tax base.
“The solution begins with empowering small and medium-sized enterprises in every community. You cannot tax your way out of poverty, you must produce your way out of it,” Obi said.
